Chang, Oshiro lead UH to title

Kelli-Anne Chang and Kristen Oshiro, who both stand 5 feet tall, scored big goals for Hawaii last night before a crowd of 1,332 at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park stadium.

Their first-half goals, the first of their college careers, helped the Rainbow Wahine beat Winthrop 3-0 in the championship match of the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Classic.

The Eagles (2-2, 1-1 tourney) defeated Kent State 1-0 in double overtime Saturday night to set up the showdown with Hawaii (3-1, 2-0).

Chang scored again early in the second half, allowing UH coach Pinsoom Tenzing to substitute freely.

"We are improving every day, and the quality hasn't changed. Quite often at this level the quality goes up and down, but we have been consistent," Tenzing said.

The Wahine had a golden chance just 2:55 into the match when Chang's shot was blocked up in the air by Winthrop goalkeeper Dimitra Poulos. Ambree Ako then tried to volley the ball into the open net, but it sailed high.

Over the next 15 minutes, both teams moved the ball well between the 18-yard lines, but the defenses were forcing long-range shots of no consequence.

That changed quickly at 17:41, when Ako dropped a pass back to Chang. The sophomore from Aiea one-touched a looping shot with her left foot from 25 yards out that dropped in under the crossbar.

"Ambree just passed the ball back to me. There was no aim. I just wanted to get the shot off. My intention was to get the ball over her (Poulos') head," Chang said.

"I've had shots before and I've thought a lot about what it would be like to score. The rush of it, the congratulations by my teammates was more than I expected."

Chang started the sequence for the second goal with a corner kick from the right side.

The ball went to Tehane Higa in the middle and she headed it down to Oshiro. The sophomore midfielder from San Diego who appeared in three matches a year ago volleyed the ball into the upper right corner from 6 yards out at 25:07.

"I'm all smiles about the goal," said Oshiro, who has started every match this year.

"Last year was difficult, but I didn't deserve to be on the field. I had a lot of work to do. I still have a lot of work to do. Now when I step on the field, I just want to enjoy the moment and make the most of it."

Hawaii held a 15-2 shot advantage, 9-1 on goal, at the half.

The Wahine took a 3-0 lead early in the second half when Oshiro made a productive run up the right wing, cut in toward the near post and angled a pass back away from the goal line.

Taryn Fukuroku, waiting in the middle, decoyed a shot and soft-touched the ball to an unguarded Chang, 12 yards out. She hit a low shot into the net past a diving Poulos.

"This time I was aiming," Chang said.

The best scoring opportunity for the Eagles came at 80:53 on a direct free kick from 20 yards out, near the right corner of the penalty box. However, Jennifer Hensley's blast hit the crossbar and ricocheted well out to the left and was cleared.

It was the third consecutive blanking by the Wahine with Kori Lu and Brittney Aiwohi sharing the shutout.

The Wahine leave Wednesday on their first road trip of the season and will play three matches in Arizona.

All-Tournament Team: Kelli-Anne Chang, MF, Alexis Choi, MF, Taryn Fukuroku, F and Tehane Higa, D, Hawaii; Heather Gilbert, D, Amy Kessler, MF, and Lisa Kurz, MF, Kent State; Jennifer Hensley, D, Dimitra Poulos, GK and Chelsea White, F, Winthrop.

MVP: Jessica Domingo, MF, Hawaii.